Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, United Club Infinite Card $695/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card on everyday spending, United Club Infinite Card on hotels.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | United Club Infinite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 1X | 2X |
| Hotels |
The United Club Infinite Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card leads in 0.
Hotels
United Club Infinite Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Travel
United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X
Dining
United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X
Ridesharing
United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X
Transit
United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | United Club Infinite Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, United Club Infinite Card $695/yr — a $45 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 2X |
| Ridesharing | 1X | 2X |
| Transit | 1X | 2X |
| Travel | 1X | 2X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$189 Year one: -$189 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $488 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: -$27 Year one: $933 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Club Infinite Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $243 Year one: $243 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $488 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: $513 Year one: $1,473 | United Club Infinite Card | United Club Infinite Card |
The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr — that's $45 more than the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card ($650/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $45 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The United Club Infinite Card includes travel credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $45 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $45 fee gap means the United Club Infinite Card needs roughly $45 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and travel and everyday spend.
Get the United Club Infinite Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
